Last term I informed you that the Department of Education would commence a substantive (permanent) principal recruitment process for Wodonga Middle Years College, in preparation for the start of the 2027 school year. I am pleased to announce that, following a merit-based selection process, Richelle Moyle is the successful applicant and has been provisionally appointed as the new principal of Wodonga Middle Years College. Please note: A provisional appointment may be subject to a selection grievance review under Section 2.4.51 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (amended and effective from 1 December2015), with the grievance period expiring in 14 days.

Richelle will be well-known to you all as she has been acting principal at our College this year, whilst Vern Hild itch has been on leave. Richelle has significant school leadership and school improvement experience, over many years across multiple schools, and she has continued this approach at our College in only a short time this year.

I know you will join me in congratulating Richelle on her provisional appointment and we look forward to having her as our principal into the future.

Paul Thorpe
School Council President
Wodonga Middle Years College

Working together as a class, students have written and developed their own play, focusing on littering and its impact on animals and the environment.

The story follows two siblings, one of whom litters, resulting in a seagull being injured. The incident sparks an argument before the characters attend a protest. By the end of the play, they recognise the need to make changes and take action to protect the environment and animals.

The Suitcase Series gives students the opportunity to develop their theatre-making skills, collaborate creatively and share their work with students from other schools. The class has developed its play over two to three lessons, building on earlier activities exploring similar styles of theatre.

The students are looking forward to performing in front of an audience alongside students from around 10 other schools. While the prospect is exciting, they also recognise that performing for a wider audience can be a little nerve-racking.

With an early start and a train journey to Melbourne, the students are ready to share their message through drama and encourage others to think about the impact of littering.

Their play highlights an important message: everyone has a role to play in caring for our environment and protecting the animals we share it with.

Learn more about The Suitcase Series at Malthouse Theatre.

Nominated by their teacher, Harrison was selected to participate in the program alongside students from other schools across Victoria. The week provided an opportunity to develop acting skills, explore different aspects of theatre and connect with other young people who share a passion for performing arts.

Throughout the week, participants took part in a range of activities to create an original performance centred on the theme of work. They also had the opportunity to learn from theatre professionals, including a fight choreographer who demonstrated techniques for staging simulated punches and slaps, and a costume designer who shared examples of their costume and set work.

For Harrison, one of the most memorable aspects of the experience was how well the group connected. Being surrounded by like-minded young artists helped reinforce their passion for acting and showed them the value of working alongside others with a shared interest in performance.

One particularly surprising takeaway was how quickly the group developed a show in just one week. The experience highlighted the creative possibilities that can emerge when people have the time and opportunity to focus, collaborate and bring their ideas to life.

Reflecting on the week, Harrison described feeling honoured to have been selected and said the experience had helped them grow as a young performing artist. Meeting others with an equally strong passion for acting also helped them recognise that performing arts offered opportunities to explore beyond their experiences at school.

For students who may be nominated in the future, Harrison encourages them to try their best, be open to meeting others and embrace the opportunity to learn alongside young artists who are all there to develop their skills.

Young Artists Week was a valuable opportunity for Harrison to deepen their interest in acting, discover more about the world of theatre and gain fresh inspiration for their development as a young artist.